Returning for an exclusive national tour from July to August 2016; Rolling Thunder Vietnam commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan. The Battle of Long Tan took place on August 18th, 1966 in the Phuoc Tuy Province, South Vietnam. Whilst resulting in an Australian victory out of the 108 Australians who fought, 18 were killed and 24 were wounded. The Vietnam War was also the world’s first televised war.

Rolling Thunder Vietnam begins in Melbourne at the Palais Theatre the show begins on Saturday July 23rd before continuing on to Sydney, Gold Coast, Newcastle, Canberra, Wollongong and Perth. For tickets and more information go to: http://tickets.rollingthundervietnam.com

Underground Brisbane Open Mic Night

On Monday August 8th, Underground Brisbane together with The New Globe Theatre will be hosting the premiere of their open mic night. The show includes performers from We Will Rock You (currently showing at QPAC) as well as full-time musical theatre students and local Brisbane Talent. To book tickets, head to: https://www.trybooking.com/Booking/BookingEventSummary.aspx?eid=211985

Rehearsals

Aladdin
The cast and crew of Aladdin moved into The Capitol Theatre, Sydney this week ahead of their first preview on August 3rd .

Funny Girl
The Production Company’s Funny Girl held it’s sitzprobe this week ahead of opening night this weekend on Saturday 23rd July. Funny Girl will be their first production for their very own orchestra. Congratulations all!

CLOSING SHOWS

NEW SOUTH WALES
Hayes Theatre: You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (closes July 30th)

VICTORIA
Chapel off Chapel: Titanic The Musical (closes July 24th)
The Regent Theatre: The Sound of Music (closes July 31st)

WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Crown Theatre: Georgy Girl (closes July 31st)

AUSTRALIAN PERFORMER SPECIAL MENTIONS

Brisbane children’s cast named for Matilda

The Brisbane children’s cast of Matilda was announced at QPAC on Wednesday, July 20th. Playing the title character of Matilda will be Izellah Connelly (King and I, Sound of Music), Annabella Cowley, Venice Harris (Les Miserables Australian and Asian Tours, Annie (NZ), Sound of Music (NZ) and Eva Murawski.

The children will perform on a rotational basis and will make up the cast for Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide seasons. Congratulations; we can’t wait to see you on stage!

Nine the Musical in concert for Think Pink

Nine the Musical was last performed professionally in Australia in 1987 at the Comedy Theatre, Melbourne. The cast included John Diedrich (who also produced and directed the show), Nancye Hayes, Maria Mercedes, Tina Arena and Sally Anne Bourne.

There is no better time to reprise the show then as a fundraiser for the Think Pink Foundation which supports women going through Breast Cancer. The show will be performed in Melbourne at The Recital Centre on October 31st, 2016 at 8:00pm.

Cast Announced for Life Like Company production of The Light in the Piazza

Winner of six TONY Awards including Best Original Score, THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA is set to romance Melbourne audiences this year when it opens at the Arts Centre Melbourne, Playhouse for 2 weeks only from 28th October. Tickets on sale from Ticketmaster on Thursday 28th July.

Produced by Life Like Company, best known for the 2014 production of Sondheim and Lapine’s PASSION and the award-winning CITY OF ANGELS in 2015, this new Australian production of THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA is the first fully staged professional production of the show to be seen in Australasia.

This new production stars Chelsea Plumley, Josh Piterman,Anton Berezin, Madison Green and Jeremy Stanford, some of Australia’s most established musical theatre talent alongside impressive newcomers Genevieve Kingsford and Jonathan Hickey.